NAVRATRI True Significance

Reminiscing through the history of bhakti, we Bharatwasis cannot help but be amazed at how our Goddesses have been worshipped over thousands of years. Where else in the world have feminine virtues been personified and revered as Ma Lakshmiji, Ma Durgaji, Ma Kaliji, Ma Gayatriji,Ma Umaji,Ma Saraswatiji,with such grandeur?

Apart from being Isht Devis of Bharatwasi families, they are specially adorned, praised, sacrificed onto, and worshipped for nine nights in the month of Ashwin, and these celebrations prove to be more spectacular every year.

Their Creator - THE INCORPOREAL ALMIGHTY AUTHORITY, GOD SHIVA, gave birth to each of His Shiv-Shaktis for a specific purpose; each Devi’s biography is a legend depicting how Her purity and wisdom were utilised to fight the evil forces and free humanity from the bondages of impurity, viciousness and sorrow. How splendid are they to have lived only for justice, righteousness, love and harmony!

As we live through the curse of Kaliyug, our Shaktis have their work cut out for them; their temples throng with devotees who come in sorrow, disheartenment, and confusion but leave having experienced intense love, hope, stability and power.

Recommended By Colombia

Despite being sculpted by a human being, how do these exquisite, yet non-living idols, emanate feelings of peace, security, love, and forgiveness? When a devotee stands before the Shakti Ma in solemn prayer, how does She transform negative emotions and intentions, thus averting Her devotees from performing wrong actions?

However dramatic their lives may seem to us, their reservoir of energy affects devotees’ lives even in the Iron Age. If our ancestors believed unconditionally in this power, why doesn’t the present generation experience such wonders? Why do we invoke these pure beings every year to help us destroy Ravan (vices), knowing well that evil continues to prevail rampant?

Is our devotion complete and accurate? Perhaps our Devis would rather prefer an honest effort in SELF-TRANSFORMATION, and worship devoid of ostentation. Although they are deemed Jagadamba, Mothers of the World, they do not discriminate between gender, age, profession, caste, religion, bank balance etc.!It should be known that these Shaktis do not shower their blessings on just anybody!

Ma Shakti’s compassion is reserved for, and Her powers bestowed upon those who live according to Her principles and maryadas. Her most invaluable treasure is PAVITRATA. Purity is not a high-flown idea but a tangible and achievable state of consciousness where thoughts, words, actions, relationships (including dreams) are free from lust, anger, greed, attachment and ego (the five vices). Whilst purity is the mother of peace and happiness, the foundation of purity is SOUL-CONSCIOUSNESS. A human being is not a body that comprises a spirit, but rather a divine entity, atma or soul, which resides in, and operates the chariot-like physical body. The more we consider ourselves to be an eternal point of energy, the more we can overcome problems of socio-economic, racial, gender, political and religious discrimination, not to mention the clash of personality traits! Having broken all mental barriers, our intellect is ready to connect with the SUPREME OCEAN of Peace, Love, Knowledge…God Shiva and draw in His unlimited power.

Unable to make sense of the chaos in the world or rectify it, many of us blind ourselves to injustice. Granted it is near impossible to change situations and people, but how about investing the same amount of energy in ones own spiritual endeavour? It can be challenging to emulate our Goddesses, but why underestimate the Shaktis’ power or that of their Maker, God Shiva, the Almighty Authority? When God has taken on the task of cleaning up the world, we do not have to feel any burden. Being in tune with the Divine Being, we can become ambassadors of peace and divinity (like the Devis).

God Shiva - budhiwano ki budhi(Intellect of the Wise), knew that the feminine powers of resilience, humility, courage, compassion, giving unconditional love (and more), would help catalyse world transformation. Regardless of where we live or how educated we are or whether we are females or males, these spiritual powers are applicable any day and age. Never before in the world drama have mothers bestowed such an unlimited inheritance of virtues on their children, as our Shaktis are doing presently.